This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has signed a bill that mandates the creation of a study on how UAS can help public safety agencies with their missions, and in turn, lower their dependence on manned aircraft. Through H.B.1070, a UAS pilot program will be established, and the Department of Labor and Employment will receive authorization “to provide resources for the training and development of eligible pilot program members.” The results of the program (which will be funded through gifts, grants and donations) and the study will be submitted to General Assembly committees. (Unmanned Aerial)
Airspace
Airspace
China’s solar-powered UAS flies in near space region
The project team under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has announced that the country’s first near-space solar drone, called Caihong (CH), or Rainbow, has successfully completed a flight at an altitude of 20 kilometers, or nearly 12 and a half miles.
The UAS, which has a wingspan of 45 meters, flew “smoothly in near space for over 15 hours under control, finishing its scheduled path,” and then landed safely.
Police in China using UAS for various tasks
UAS are being used across China to help police conduct a variety of missions.
Recently, a UAS was used to help search for, and capture, a man who robbed a woman and then disappeared into a “sprawling, muddy village” in the Minhang District.
Through the Shanghai Daily, officer Wen Jia of the Tianyuan Xincun police station (which handled the Minhang robbery) explained why the UAS was so beneficial in this situation by saying, “in the case of the June 1 robbery, we didn’t have enough manpower to quickly search the whole village. A drone did the work for us.”
Traffic jam in the skies: NASA updates UTM effort
By Clark Perry
There could be 7 million UAS vehicles flying in U.S. airspace by the year 2020, according to the FAA. It’s a staggering number, especially when it comes to safely managing all that air traffic.
To get a sense of what the skies may be like in just a few years, imagine the following scenario: firefighting aircraft are racing to the scene of a wildfire, only to find their air path strewn with municipal UAS vehicles inspecting power lines, hobbyists capturing vacation footage with the latest off-the-shelf drone from Best Buy, and Amazon Prime’s local drone fleet launching to make their daily deliveries.
AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2018
This premier event unites the largest global community of drone, intelligent robotics and unmanned systems leaders to shape the future of the industry. Featuring the largest and most comprehensive trade show, this event is the spot to learn from daily keynotes with tech visionaries and 200+ world-class sessions as well as connect with 8,500+ industry pros and business experts from 20+ industries.
www.xponential.org
UVISION ANO FIRSTEC PARTNER TO SELL HERO 30 UAS TO SOUTH KOREAN MARKET
lsreel-based UVision Air Ltd. and South Korea based Firstec Co. Ltd. have agreed to a partnership where Firstec will sell UVision's short-range HERO-30Lethal Loitering Systems to their SouthKorean market.
Small aircraft, swarming systems seen needed by the military
In the near term, the u.s. Army plans to investin soldier-bome sensors, leader-rollowercargo-hauling technology and liny, hand-held unmanned aircralt, said Maj. Gen. Roberl M. "Bo' Dyess, depuiy director of the Army Capability Integration Center.
